Jose Maria Morelos

This Mesitizo priest was also a revoultionary rebel leader. Born in 1765, he led the Mexican War of Independence movement. His goal was to improve conditions for mexicans. In ways such as abolishing slavery and giving the right to vote to men. Before Jose's time, Miguel Hidalgo took the first step towards independence. He called for rebellion against the Spanish,(grito de Dolores).The very next day Hidalgo's followers railed in Mexico City where the creoloes took control of land, property and their lives. After this defeat they railed up a new leader, Padre Jose Maria Morelos. Which he led the revolution for four years. He was an extremly strong leader but just came in at the wrong time. Unfortunantly he didnt make much progress although he did work extremly hard to start something. In 1815 a creole officer, Agustin de Inturbide, defeated him. In 1820 events in Mexico took another turn and changed the lives of the people forever. Ironically enough, Agustin who defeated Jose actually won the independence for the Mexicans in 1821. They were officialy freed from Spain. Mexico won its independence from Spain in the general area of Central America. The freedom of Mexico was based off of some Enlightenment ideas. When all the people were gathered together (grito de Dolores) it was like when the French people gathered together to rebel against King Louis. They developed a national anthem that is still used today. The people of Mexico did just as the French did to gather ideas and think of ways to rebel against the spanish.